Positive Emission Tomography (PET) Scans

In White Plains Hospital's Radiology Department, our board-certified radiologists administer Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans to best diagnose and treat our patients. A PET scan can be ordered by a physician to find cancer, to check blood flow, or to see how organs are working. These scans also help pinpoint the source of a problem by identifying stroke, coronary artery disease, and many types of cancer. PET scans are a helpful tool in radiation oncology, helping physicians see the spread or metastasis of cancer and decide on the most appropriate treatment plans for patients.

How do PET Scans Work?

PET scans use a specialized camera and radioactive tracer to study organs in the body, and are conducted by a nuclear medicine specialist or radiologist. During the test, the tracer liquid is administered intravenously and moves throughout the body, where much of it collects in the specific organ or tissue. The tracer gives off tiny positively charged particles called positrons which are then captured by the PET scanner, which moves around the body recording the positrons.

After the scan is complete, the PET scan recording is turned into pictures which are stored on a computer and read by a radiologist or nuclear medicine specialist. Often, a radiologist or nuclear medicine specialist will analyze and compare the PET scan to CT and MRI results to accurately diagnose patients. PET scans, including the combination PET/CT scan, are a valuable tool for detecting cancer cells.

To find out more information about PET scans at White Plains Hospital, please contact the Radiology Department at 914-681-1260. For resources only for radiation therapy and not other imaging services, you may contact WPH's Radiation Oncology Department at 914-681-2727 or read more online.